Eave strut and bracket assembly

ABSTRACT

AN EAVE STRUT AND AN EAVE STRUT BRACKET TO SUPPORT THE STRUT ON THE FRAME OF A PRE-ENGINEERED METAL BUILDING.

Oct. 12, 1971 ER ETAL 3,611,661

EAVE STRUT AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 9, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. BRUCE CHAMBERS DONALD DAY BY PHILIP F. UHRHANE JOM ATTORNEY.

Oct. 12, 197'] a. CHAMBERS ErAL 3,611,661

EAVE STRUT'AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 9, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

BRUCE CHAMBERS DONALD DAY BY PHILIP F. UHRHANE MXJQM ATTOR N EY.

B. CHAMBERS ETAL EAVE STRUT AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 12, 197'] Filed Dec. 9, 1969 BY LlP E UHRHANE 3,611,661 EAVE STRUT AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY Bruce Chambers, Belpre, and Donald Day, Guysville, Ohio, and Philip F. Uhrhane, lParkei-sburg, W. Va, assignors to Textron Inc, Providence, RI. Filed Dec. 9, 1969, Ser. No. 883,396 lint. Cl. 1E04b 7/04 U.S. Cl. 52-94 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An eave strut and an eave strut bracket to support the strut on the frame of a pre-engineered metal building.

This invention relates to pic-engineered metal buildings and in particular relates to improvements in eave struts and brackets for mounting the strut on the building girders and rafters.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an eave strut having a configuration providing for the strut to be used, without modification, with side walls of either the interlocking or overlapping type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut having a configuration which enables the strut to be used on roofs of any of the conventional slopes simply by the angular orientation of one portion of the strut.

Another object of thhe invention is to provide an eave strut which permits roof and/or side wall insulation to extend on the outboard side of the strut and thereby form a desirable insulation barrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut having a shape which permits roof and side wall roll insulation to be permanently installed in the desired taut condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut which permits purlin ties to be connected by a single metal tab screw arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut mounting bracket which is usable without modification with any of the standard roof slopes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut mounting bracket which can be used without modification with side walls of either the interlocking or the overlapping type.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut mounting bracket of a special configuration to permit the transfer of wind loads on the side walls into the roof structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut and a bracket for mounting the strut on a building frame, the strut and bracket each being of special configuration which permits wind loads on the building side walls to be transferred from the frame into the roof structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eave strut and a bracket for mounting the strut on a building frame, the strut and bracket each being of a special configuration to provide that the same can be used with roofs of any slope merely by appropriately angularly orienting on one part of the strut.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be described below in connection with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing portions of a building frame on which is secured the eave strut mounting bracket and eave strut of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the eave strut mounting bracket of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a cross section of the cave strut of the invention;

3,blll,fitil Patented Get. 112, 1971i FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating how the eave strut and its mounting bracket are used with roofs of widely different slopes;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 1 and illustrating how the purlins are connected to the eave strut;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which the eave strut is connected to the building girt;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing the cave strut as used with interlocking panels and in particular illustrating how the roof and side wall insulation is arranged outboard of the strut to provide an insulation barrier;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view illustrating the manner in which the eave strut is used. with non-interlocking panels and showing in particular how the side wall and roof insulation is arranged outboard of the eave strut to provide a thermal barrier;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which the eave strut can be used to pull the side wall insulation taut at the time the same is being installed; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which the cave strut is used for pulling the roof insulation taut at the time of installation.

In FIG. 1 we have shown a portion of a typical frame with which the strut and bracket of the invention is used. For example in FIG. 1 an end column is indicated at 1, the rafter at 2, the girt at 3, a purlin at 4 and a purlin tie at 5.

The eave strut is indicated at 6 and the eave strut mounting bracket is indicated at 7.

The bracket 7 is mounted on the surface top of the rafter 2. It will be understood that similar brackets supporting the eave strut are mounted on the building girders now shown. Also, it will be understood that the frame of the building includes other purlins and purlin ties forming a support for the roof panels.

The overall structure of the bracket 7 is best seen in FIG. 2. The bracket includes a flat, plate-like base at 10', a flat riser 11 extending upwardly normal to the base 10 and secured thereto preferably by welding. A gusset 12 is connected both to the base and riser preferably by welding and rigidly fixes the two parts together. The gusset is connected generally centrally of the base and the riser. The riser 11 divides the base into a forward section 13 and an after section 14. By forward is meant a section which extends in a direction outboard of the building. The forward section 13 has a plurality of apertures 15 to accept fasteners for securing the cave strut to the bracket. The after section has a plurality of pairs of apertures 16a, 16b and to accept fasteners for securing the bracket down against the rafter or girder. The riser 11 has a plurality of apertures 17 to accept fasteners for securing the riser to the web of the eave strut.

Referring to FIG. 1 it will be noted that the base 10 is secured to the flange 20 of the rafter 2 as by the fasteners 21. An angle bracket 22 is secured to the web of the rafter and the base 10 engages the angle 22 and is secured thereto by the fasteners 23.

The structure of the eave strut will be explained in connection with FIGS. 1 and 3, the shape of the strut having special significance and purpose as will presently appear.

The strut is a unitary elongated body which is of a length depending upon the bay spacing of the building with which the strut will be used.

The strut has a web section 24 which forms the principal structural portion of the strut and is used for connecting the strut to the strut mounting bracket and for anchoring purlin tie rods as will appear hereinafter. Connected to the top of the web and extending outwardly normally therefrom is a generally flat head section 25. The head section 25 forms a strengthening member for the web and also forms a support for the building insulation and roof panels as will presently appear. Also the head is drilled in the field to provide apertures which accept fastening screws to hold down the roof panels.

On the outer edge of the head is a flat lip section which extends downwardly parallel to the web 24. The lip forms a strengthening member for the head and also is used for anchoring side wall insulation during installation as will presently appear.

On the bottom of the web is a generally flat foot 30 extending generally normally outwardly in a direction opposite the head 25 and substantially parallel thereto. The foot is a strengthening member for the web and also provides a means for connecting the strut to the strut mounting bracket as will presently appear. Connected to the outer end of the foot 30 is a flange 31 which extends generally downwardly from the foot.

The flange 31 provides a means for anchoring the strut to the building side walls and the angular orientation of the flange is related to the slope of the roof with which the eave strut will be used. There are different orientations for different slopes. This adapts the strut and the strut mounting bracket to any building slope as will be noted hereinafter.

The web section 24 of the strut is provided with a number of vertically extending slots used for connecting the purlins to the eave strut. For example, with reference to FIG. 6, it will be seen that the slot 32 accepts a tab 33 of the eave strut 5. The tab '33 is back against the web 24 and fastened down by the screw 34-. This makes for a simple reliable way of securing the purlin and reduces inventory requirements in both manufacturing and installation labor costs. The other slots for the purlin ties are not shown.

The manner in which the eave strut and bracket are connected together is illustrated in FIG. 1. Web 24 of the strut and riser 11 of the bracket are secured by fasteners 35. Foot 30 of the eave strut and forward section 13 of the bracket are secured by the fasteners 36.

The manner in which the orientation of the flange 31 is used to adapt the eave strut bracket assembly for different roof slopes will be explained in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

In FIG. 4 the line 37 represents the roof which is sloped to the vertical as represented by the line V. The line 38 represents the top of the girder or rafter which is parallel to the roof line 37. The bracket 39 (which is the same as bracket 7) rests on top of the girder 3 and the eave strut 40 (which is the same as strut 6) is secured thereto. The flange 41 (which corresponds with flange '31) is oriented vertically or parallel to the vertical line V. Thus, the flange 41 is in position to engage the vertically extending side wall and to be secured thereto. In FIG. the building has a much steeper slope with the roof being represented by the line 42 and the top of the girder or rafter by the line 43. The bracket 39 rests on top of the girder 43 and the eave strut 44 is secured thereto. In this instance it will be noted that the flange 45 (which corresponds with flange 31) is also oriented whereby it extends parallel the line V. The flange is in condition to engage and to be fixedly secured to the building side walls.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that irrespective of the slope of the roof, the support bracket is readily adaptable inasmuch as it simply rests on top of the girders or rafters. With the eave strut secured to the bracket, the slope is accommodated by the lower depending flange being oriented so that it will extend generally vertically. Thus, the only change to adapt the assembly for roofs of differing slopes is to properly orient the lower depending flange.

Before going on it is pointed out that the eave strut 6 is adapted to be connected to the top most girt in a manner as shown in FIG. 7 wherein the C-shaped bracket 46 fits over the end of the girt 3 and is respectively se- 4 cured to the girt and eave strut respectively by the fasteners 47 and 48.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 we have shown how the shape of the eave strut permits an insulation barrier by way of extensions of the roof and side wall insulation. An adequate barrier is formed without the necessity of adding additional or independent insulation pieces which effect considerable savings in installation costs.

In FIG. 8 the eave strut is used with side walls comprised of interlocking type panels such as the panel 51. The side wall panel and eave strut are connected together as by the hook bolt 52. The side wall insulation in the panel is cut extra long so that a portion extends out of the top of the panel outboard of the eave strut as indicated at 53. Further, the roof insulation '54 under the roof panel 55 extends over the head 56 of the eave strut downwardly on the outboard side as indicated at 57. The two portions 53 and 57 form an insulation barrier. The roof panel 55 ex tends over the head 56 of the eave strut downwardly on the outboard side as indicated at 57. The two portions 53 and 57 form an insulation barrier. The roof panel 55 is secured down against the insulation 54 on the head 56 as by fastener 58.

In FIG. 9 the eave strut 60 is used with side walls comprised of overlapping type panels such as the panel 61. The side wall panel and the eave strut are connected together as by the fastener 62. The side wall 61 has insulation 63 which extends upwardly on the outboard side of the eave strut as indicated at 64 and up over the head 65. The roof insulation 66 under the roof panel 70 extends over the head 65 and downwardly on the outboard side of the cave strut as indicated at 71. The portions 64- and 71 form an insulation barrier. The roof panel 70 is secured down against the insulation as by the fastener 72.

In FIG. 10 we have illustrated how the eave strut can be used for attaining a taut condition in side wall insulation during installation. The roll of insulation 73 for the side panel 74 is pulled up taut over the head 75 0f the eave strut 76. The eave strut is supported by the eave strut brackets not shown, but with the flange 77 not connected with the panel 74. The insulation extends down over the lip 78 and is held in place by the C-clamp-Z x 4 arrangement 79. Once the flange 77 is anchored against the panel and firm against the insulation, the C-clamp arrangement is removed. The insulation against the panels will thus remain in taut condition.

In FIG. 11 we have shown a way in which the roof insulation can be put into a taut condition during installation. Assuming that the side wall insulation 73 has been installed as described above, a roll of roof insulation 80 is pulled across the purlins (not shown) and over the top end of the side wall insulation on the head 81 of the eave strut 82. The outer end 83 of the roll is then secured between the 2 x 4s 84 held together by the C-clamp 85. The weight 86 provides necessary tension in the roll. When the roll 80 is weighted down as described, the upper end 87 of the side wall insulation 73 can be pulled taut and will remain in this condition due to the force of the roof insulation. After the roof panel is put down over the insulation 80 and anchored against the head 81 of the eave strut, the outer ends of the roll is cut (adjacent 2 x 4s) and then the remainder is tucked down so that it assumes the position as noted in FIG. 9.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 it will be observed that the interlocking panel 51 is of much greater depth than the overlapping panel 61. The cave strut bracket is usable with either type of panel without modification simply by shifting the same inboard or outboard of the girder and rafter. The pairs of apertures 16a, 16b and permit fastening the bracket in the desired position on the girder or the rafter. The apertures in the girders and rafters to accommodate the hold-down fasteners 21 and 23 (FIG. 1) are also arranged to accommodate desired bracket position.

As mentioned heretofore, one of the prime advantages of the eave strut structure and of the bracket structure is the ability to transfer horizontal wind loads into the roof panels. By providing that the roof structure partake of this load carrying function the size of the components making up the building frame can be correspondingly reduced and extra braces, supporting braces and the like eliminated. This substantially reduces material and installation costs.

We claim:

1. In a pre-engineered metal building having vertically extending side walls and a roof girder with a fiat top surface, the combination of an eave strut and an eave strut mounting bracket:

the mounting bracket having a fiat base mounted on the top surface of said girder; the mounting bracket having a riser connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom and dividing the base into a foward section and an after section;

the mounting bracket having a gusset connected between the riser and to the base and rigidly holding the same together;

a plurality of fastening means in said after section and rigidly anchoring the base to the girder;

the cave strut having a web section engaging said riser;

a plurality of fastening means anchoring the web section and the riser together;

the eave strut having a foot connected to the bottom of the web and engaging the forward section of the base;

fastening means anchoring the foot and the forward section together;

the eave strut having a flange connected to the outer end of said foot and extending vertically and engaging the building side walls; and

a plurality of fastening means anchoring the flange and side wall together.

2. In a pre-engineered metal building having a roof girder with a flat, top surface, the combination of an eave strut and an eave strut mounting bracket;

the mounting bracket having a flat base mounted on the top surface of said girder; the mounting bracket having a riser connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom and dividing the base into a forward section and an after section;

the mounting bracket having a gusset connected between the riser and to the base and rigidly holding the same together;

a plurality of fastening means in said after section and rigidly anchoring the base to the girder;

the eave strut having a web section engaging said riser;

a plurality of fastening means anchoring the web section and the riser together;

the eave strut having a head section connected to the top to the web and a lip on the outer end of the head;

the eave strut having a foot connected to the bottom of the web and engaging the forward section of the base; fastening means anchoring the foot and the forward section together; and

the eave strut having a flange connected to the outer end of said foot and extending vertically.

3. In a pre-engineered metal building having vertically extending side walls and a roof girder with a flat top surface, the combination of an eave strut and an eave strut mounting bracket:

the bracket having a fiat base mounted on the top surface of said girder;

the bracket having a flat riser connected to the base and extending upwardly therefrom and dividing the base into a forward section and an after section, the riser and the forward section being for use in engaging the eave strut and providing a means for supporting and securing the cave strut;

the bracket having a flat gusset connected between the riser and the base generally centrally thereof and rigidly holding the riser and the base together;

the after section having a plurality of pairs of apertures respectively on opposite sides of said gusset for receiving fasteners to anchor the bracket to the girder, the pairs providing for holding the bracket in a desired position along the girder;

a plurality of fasteners in said after section apertures and anchoring the bracket to the girder;

the forward section having a plurality of apertures for receiving fasteners for anchoring the eave strut to the forward section;

the riser having a plurality of apertures respectively on opposite sides of said gusset for receiving fasteners for anchoring the riser and the eave strut together;

the eave strut having a web with a top and a bottom, the web providing a principal structural member and engaging the riser;

the web having apertures in alignment with the apertures in said riser to accept fastening means to lock the web and the riser together;

the eave strut having a head section connected to the top of the web and extending outwardly therefrom, the head being a strengthening member for the Web and being for use in supporting building insulation and roof panels on top of the insulation;

the eave strut having a lip on the outer end of the head section and extending in a direction toward the bottom of the web, the lip being a strengthening member for the head;

the eave strut having a foot connected to the bottom of said web and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite said head and parallel thereto, the foot being a strengthening member for the web and engaging the forward section of the bracket;

the foot having apertures in alignment with the apertures in said forward section to accept fastening means to lock the foot and the forward section to gether;

the eave strut having a flange connected to the outer end of the foot and extending angularly outwardly therefrom generally in the same direction as said lip, the angle of the flange with respect to said foot being related to the slope of the roof whereby the flange is vertically oriented and the flange providing a strengthening member for the foot; and

a plurality of fasteners respectively disposed in the aligned apertures between said foot and said forward section and locking the same together and also between said riser and said web and locking the same together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 496,466 5/1893 White 52732 708,936 9/1902 Strom 52292 723,669 3/1903 Hammann 52292 1,778,889 10/1930 Disbro 52262 X 1,988,388 1/1935 Mioton 5292 3,360,892 1/1968 Rosso 5294 X 3,474,578 10/1969 Wippermann 5292 FOREIGN PATENTS 248,782 12/1962 Australia 52732 HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

